Most Corrupt Members of Congress

The Center for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has released their seventh annual Most Corrupt report, highlighting the most corrupt members of Congress. This year's report names "19 members of Congress – 14 members whose actions violated the law or who otherwise engaged in serious misconduct, and five others whose lack of regard for the rules earned them a dishonorable mention."

Of those who made the list, there are 12 Republicans and seven Democrats - they are all members of the U.S. House of Representatives except for Sen. David Vitter (R-La.). Additionally, six are freshmen members of Congress.

CREW's report is put out to highlight the transgressions of members and to call for increased ethics standards in Washington, D.C.

"We deserve better than this. The lack of enforcement of ethics laws and rules fuels cynicism about government at a time when it is already rampant. An August 2011 poll of likely voters by Rasmussen Reports found 43% of voters view most members of Congress as corrupt – and that was the good news."